Anthony Joshua Congratulates Tyson Fury
- Eyes unification bout
Nigerian-born British World Heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua has congratulated ‘gladiator’ Tyson Fury for his stunning Technical Knockout (TKO) victory over former World Boxing Council (WBC) title holder, Deontay Wilder at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday.
Fury dropped the American fighter in the third and fifth rounds before Wilder’s corner threw in the towel in the seventh session.
The result means Fury is now a two-time heavyweight champion following his 2015 impressive victory over the then champion, Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine.
Wilder has 30 days to activate the rematch clause in his contract but will also need treatment on a suspected burst eardrum. That could open the door for Joshua who holds the other three belts to gun for a unification bout.
Joshua is set to defend his IBF belt against mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20 while he may also be obligated to defend the WBO title against Oleksandr Usyk later in the year. against mandatory challenger, but promoter Eddie Hearn is keen to host an undisputed fight instead.
Fury may have already started the mind games with his domestic rival by wearing a gum-shield in the colours of Nigeria, where Joshua has roots.
And the 2012 Olympic champion posted a picture of Fury’s mouthpiece with the caption “gladiator”. He also posted a picture of Wilder slumped in his corner with the same tribute.
Meanwhile boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn has promised to deliver Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua unification title bout before the end of this year.
Following Fury’s masterful performance against Deontay Wilder to win the WBC heavyweight title, Hearn said the stage is now set for possible showdown with Joshua, who himself produced a stunning win against Andy Ruiz Jr to reclaim the IBF, WBO and WBA (Super) title in December 2019.
For now, the only drawback to the unification fight is the expectations that Wilder will immediately activate his rematch clause and set up a trilogy fight with ‘The Gypsy King’.
Hearn congratulated Fury on Twitter, saying: “Wow, unbelievable from Fury! Fair play and well done Sugar Hill and Andy Lee, on first class game plan.”
And responding to a Twitter user who wrote: “Not a chance Eddie Hearn is letting Joshua anywhere near Tyson now, Hearn said: “Of course I am! And AJ wants it bad… this fight is gonna happen and has to happen this year!”
And after sharing a mock-up image of Joshua and Fury standing across from each other in the ring, Hearn added: “No need for a third, let’s go straight to it in the summer.” – Agency report